Auto

BMW's remote locking mechanism helped Seattle Police Department to nab an alleged thief. The 38-year-old man found the car unlocked and took it for a ride. When the owner reported the theft, police contacted BMW and requested for assistance. The company locked the vehicle remotely trapping the suspect inside and the police arrested him.

Toyota Australia has announced the recall of an additional 179,710 vehicles. Three Toyota models – Avensis Verso, Corolla and Yaris with build dates from March 2007 to December 2011 – are now being retracted as part of the carmaker’s Takata airbag safety campaign.

The Royal Automobile Club of Australia (RAC) launched the RAC Intellibus, a self-driving bus which seats 11 passengers and runs at 28 miles an hour. Although still on its testing phase, Perth residents could register to try the experimental transport mode.

Toyota Australia has announced the recall of almost 15,000 of the carmaker’s iconic coupe, the Toyota 86, which were built between April 2012 and March 2015. More than 3,000 Subaru BRZ coupes are also up for recall.

The preference of using an Uber instead of an ambulance by a woman in Melbourne about to give birth shows the changing commuter preference in Australia. It appears that the ride-sharing service has also gained influence in policy formulation in the country’s transport industry.

Tesla’s new electronic luxury car is reported to cost AU$122,812, including Luxury Car Tax rates, at entry level rates. The Model X 60D comes with a five seat interior but can be upgraded to a six and seven seat interior, which will cost an extra US$3000 and US$4000 respectively. The Tesla Model X units are scheduled to be delivered late September.

Honda Australia has added over 132,000 vehicles in its latest series of recalls due to faulty Takata airbags. The announcement follows Mitsubishi and Toyota car recalls across Australia for separate mechanical problems.

Volkswagen AG will reportedly pay more than US$15 billion (AU$20.3 billion) as settlement in the US diesel-gate scandal. The German carmaker will announce Tuesday its settlement to about 475,000 owners of its diesel-powered models in the US.